Thriller – aka Boris Karloff’s Thriller – is an American anthology television series that aired during the 1960–1961 and 1961–1962 seasons on NBC. The show featured host Boris Karloff introducing a mix of macabre horror tales and suspense thrillers.
Thriller was created by Hubbell Robinson for MCA’s Revue Studios. It was produced by Fletcher Markle, William Frye, and Maxwell Shane. Among the many writers for the series were Robert Hardy Andrews, and Robert Bloch (Psycho, The Night Walker), who adapted a number of his own stories, notably “The Weird Tailor.”
In addition to serving as the host of the series, Karloff starred in five episodes: “The Prediction,” “The Premature Burial,” “The Last of the Somervilles,” “Dialogues With Death,” and “The Incredible Doctor Markesan.”
Other cast members included Leslie Nielsen (Prom Night, Repossessed) in the show’s first episode “The Twisted Image,” Rip Torn in “The Purple Room,” William Shatner (Incubus) in two episodes, “The Hungry Glass” and “The Grim Reaper,” Constance Ford in two episodes, Mary Tyler Moore in two episodes and Edward Andrews in three episodes.
Child actress Beverly Washburn appeared in “Parasite Mansion”; Joan Tompkins appeared in “The Cheaters” and “Mr. George.” Elizabeth Montgomery, Tom Poston, and John Carradine starred in the episode “Masquerade.” Ed Nelson starred in four episodes: “The Fatal Impulse,” “The Cheaters,” “A Good Imagination,” and “Dialogues With Death.”
Other notable actors included:
- George Grizzard
- Bethel Leslie
- Patricia Medina
- Patricia Barry
- Richard Anderson
- Richard Chamberlain
- Elisha Cook
- Conrad Nagel
- Russell Johnson
- Diana Millay
- Philip Carey
- Kathleen Crowley
- Susan Oliver
- J. Pat O’Malley
- Henry Daniell
- Robert Vaughn
- Marlo Thomas
- John Ireland
- Jeanette Nolan
- Virginia Gregg
- Hazel Scott
- Lloyd Bochner
- Scott Marlowe
- Judson Pratt
- Mary Astor
- Marion Ross
- MacDonald Carey
- Natalie Schafer
- Phyllis Thaxter
- Estelle Winwood
- Antoinette Bower
- Jo Van Fleet
- Jane Greer
- Dick York
- Jocelyn Brando
- Richard Carlson
- William Windom
- George Kennedy
- Cloris Leachman
- Monte Markham
- Patricia Breslin
